ATTRIBUTED TO THE GROUP OF THE COURTING CUPS, CIRCA 520 B.C.

The Group of the Courting Cups comprises more than fifty black-figured eye-cups of Type A, which nearly always feature either courting scenes, as here, or a horseman (see p. 82 in J.D. Beazley, Paralipomena). Regarding the courtship scenes, according to L.A. Beaumont (pp. 63-65, “The Changing Face of Childhood,” in J. Neils and J.H. Oakley, eds., Coming of Age in Ancient Greece), “in the context of ancient Athens the age difference between the two lovers was of paramount importance, for their homoerotic relationship was considered to provide not only pleasure for the adult male but also both a sexual initiation for the boy, and, through the adult male lover, a role model for the aristocratic ideals and conduct to which the growing youth should aspire.”